Esketamine for Schizophrenia

5 papers and 2 clinical trials exploring esketamine as a treatment for schizophrenia.

Compounddissociative

Esketamine

Esketamine (Spravato) is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, approved as an intranasal treatment for treatment-resistant depression and MDD with acute suicidal ideation. It is administered under clinical supervision with post-dose monitoring and has reached over $1.6 billion in annual sales.

Full Esketamine profile
IndicationApproximately 24 million people worldwide are affected by schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterised by disruptions in thought processes and perception. Recent research into psychedelics has opened new avenues for understanding its neurobiology and exploring potential therapeutic mechanisms, particularly in addressing treatment-resistant symptoms.

Full Schizophrenia profile

Academic Research

5 papers
Open Accessindividual

Esketamine Nasal Spray vs Quetiapine Extended-Release: Examining Work Productivity Loss and Related Costs in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression

This secondary analysis (n=321) of the ESCAPE-TRD trial compared work productivity loss (WPL) and related costs in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) receiving esketamine nasal spray (56mg or 84mg) versus quetiapine (atypical antipsychotic) extended release, both combined with an oral antidepressant. By week 8, WPL decreased by 30.3% with esketamine and 17.3% with quetiapine, leading to a cost savings difference of $156 per week. By week 32, WPL reductions were 45.3% (esketamine) and 32.5% (quetiapine), with a weekly cost savings difference of $153.

Published
Journal
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Authors
Bowrey, H. E., Buyze, J., Clemens, K., Godinov, Y., Joshi, K., Pilon, D., Shah, A., Teeple, A., Zhdanava, M.
Paywallindividual

Esketamine nasal spray versus quetiapine XR in adults with treatment-resistant depression: a secondary analysis of the ESCAPE-TRD randomized clinical trial

In adults with treatment‑resistant depression treated per US prescribing information, esketamine nasal spray produced significantly higher remission rates than quetiapine XR (from 28.3% vs 18.6% at week 8 to 55.7% vs 36.3% at week 32) and greater reductions in MADRS scores from day 8 onwards. Fewer patients discontinued esketamine because of adverse events compared with quetiapine XR (4.5% vs 10.1%).

Published
Journal
CNS Spectrums
Authors
Bitter, I., Buyze, J., Cebulla, K., Frey, R., Fu, D. J., Godinov, Y., Ito, T., Kambarov, Y., Llorca, P-M., Messer, T., Mulhern-Haughey, S., Oliveira-Maia, A. J., Reif, A., Rive, B., von Holt, C., Young, A. H.
Open Accessindividual

Efficacy of esketamine nasal spray over quetiapine extended release over the short and long term: sensitivity analyses of ESCAPE-TRD, a randomised phase IIIb clinical trial

Sensitivity analyses of the randomised ESCAPE‑TRD trial confirmed that adjunctive esketamine nasal spray was consistently superior to quetiapine extended release for achieving remission at Week 8 and remaining relapse‑free to Week 32 (relative risks 1.46–1.84, all p<0.05). Esketamine also shortened time to first and confirmed remission (hazard ratios ≈1.66–1.71), supporting the robustness of the original findings.

Published
Journal
British Journal of Psychiatry
Authors
Blomqvist, O., Cardoner, N., Diels, J., Fagiolini, A., Falkai, P., Godinov, Y., Llorca, P-M., Mulhern-Haughey, S., Nielsen, R. E., Reif, A., Rive, B., Young, A. H.
Paywallindividual

Esketamine Nasal Spray versus Quetiapine for Treatment-Resistant Depression

This open-label Phase IIIb trial (n=676) compared the efficacy of esketamine nasal spray and extended-release quetiapine, combined with an SSRI or SNRI, in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The study found that a significantly higher percentage of patients in the esketamine group achieved remission at week 8 (27.1% vs 17.6%) and had no relapse through week 32 after remission at week 8 (21.7% vs 14.1%). Adverse events were consistent with the established safety profiles of the trial treatments.

Published
Journal
New England Journal of Medicine
Authors
Bitter, I., Buyze, J., Cebulla, K., Frey, R., Fu, D. J., Ito, T., Kambarov, Y., Llorca, P-M., Messer, T., Mulhern-Haughey, S., Oliveira-Maia, A. J., Reif, A.

Clinical Trials

2 trials

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